MovieChat Forums > Trainspotting (1996) Discussion > American tourist

American tourist

posted 9 years ago by robken0174
13 replies | jump to latest

I love this film, but hate the way they portray the American tourist in the bar. They have this nerdy, over-optimistic fool (dressed like a moron) enter the bar, and ask if he can use the bathroom in the most naive manner.

The boys of course hear this clueless yank's request and take it upon themselves to beat him up and take his money. Fairly predictable character writing of an American by a UK writer.

Folks, please don't get the idea we Americans are all like this. We're a large country with many many types of people and personalities...just in case you're gullable enough to buy what films are selling.

[–] Studman_Productions 8 years ago

ha, but it happens

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sherbaum1985 8 years ago

Lighten up Francis. Plenty of American writers have done the same for British, German, Italian, etc. tourists. Just laugh it off and enjoy the movie.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ethics_gradient 8 years ago

If you've ever been in Edinburgh while the festival's on then you'll know this is a highly accurate portrayal of your typical American tourist.

[–] evanmang87 8 years ago

I'd say tourists in general. I find tourists of all nationalities are prone to being obnoxious and goofy. It's not like there haven't been countless cases in US cities of street kids stealing from, beating, robbing, or taking advantage of European and Asian tourists or even American tourists from other parts of the US.

[–] ethics_gradient 8 years ago

True enough. I was just offering up some anecdotal evidence :)

[–] darlingmagic 8 years ago

You are aware that nearly every time there is an English character in an American TV show or Hollywood film we are portrayed COMPLETELY different to how we actually are??

[–] Raging-Bullwinkle 8 years ago

I didn't really notice much about how the tourist was dressed. He came in, said 5 words, "can I use your bathroom?", and headed for it quickly because he really had to go. They picked up on the American accent knowing he was a tourist and went after him.
The important thing to remember is that these guys are low-lifes -especially Begbie. If the guy hadn't been a tourist but they suspected he had a wad of money they still might've gone after him. The fact that he WAS a tourist just made it more likely they could get away with it. I loved this movie, but just because these guys are interesting and funny at times doesn't mean they're the kind of dudes I'd like to hang out with. I've only seen the flick once so forgive me if I don't get it exactly correct, but didn't Renton refer to them as "my so-called mates" or something like that a couple of times? They didn't trust each other and with very good reason. I'm a Yank and the tourist scene didn't bother me at all. Happens all over the world. The guys just had an opportunity fall into their laps and took advantage of it.

[–] stevekaczynski 8 years ago

Tourists are vulnerable to local low-lifes. This scene is more realistic than the premise of Taken, in which Liam Neeson's daughter is abducted by Albanian white slavers, but there are people who take advantage of naive foreign visitors.
Note also that the bartender is given the American's bomber jacket. Probably his cut and a way of telling him to keep his mouth shut about an assault in his bar.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

[–] ChardeeMacDennis86 8 years ago

Believe me, this is accurate. I live in a large English city and see tourists like him all the time.

Just a few weeks ago I saw some goofy American tourist at a cash machine drawing out a wad. If I was a thief I could have had all their *beep*

And as others have said, British people are all portrayed in Hollywood films as evil/villain, rich posh twat or exaggerated cockney.

So just shutup and enjoy the film.

[–] gorbals406 8 years ago

rich posh twat

For the American readers of these comments, you'd better explain that "twat" rhymes with "hat" and not with "hot". 

[–] snappy_matt 8 years ago

Did you miss the scene with all the London stereotypes?

There's an edge of comedy to this film :-)

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